The first awards for heroism are presented by the National Court of Honor.

1912

By 1912, Scouts are enrolled in every state.

The first Eagle Scout Award is earned by Arthur Eldred in Troop 1 in Oceanside, New York. A few weeks after becoming the first Eagle Scout, Eldred helps save another Scout from drowning and is awarded the Honor Medal for his actions.

The Department of Education establishes a national office to train all Scouters.

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council.

1916

Congress grants the Boy Scouts of America a federal charter on June 15, giving special protection to the name and insignia and limiting membership to American citizens.

1917

Scouting's full resources are placed at the service of the government as part of the war effort. From 1917 to 1918, Scouts sell 2,350,977 Liberty Loan bonds, totaling $147,876,902; and war savings stamps, to a value of $53,043,698. More than 300 million pieces of government literature are distributed, and services rendered include food and fuel conservation and Boy Scout war gardens.

1919

The first gold Honor medals are awarded by the National Court of Honor for saving life at risk of the rescuers own.

1920s

1920

The First World Jamboree is held in England; Boy Scouts from 32 of 52 countries are present. The Boy Scouts of America sends 301 members.

1924

The Every Scout a Swimmer program is inaugurated.

The first achievement badges are earned by physically disabled Scouts.

The Lone Scouts of America merges with the Boy Scouts of America.

1926

The first Silver Buffalo awards for distinguished service to boyhood are presented.

The National Executive Board authorizes development of a program for younger boys, which will eventually become Cub Scouting.

The First National Jamboree is held in Washington from June 30 to July 9, at the invitation of President Roosevelt, with an attendance of 27,232.

1938

Waite Phillips donates Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp (later to become Philmont Scout Ranch--see 1941) consisting of 35,857 acres of land on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, near Cimarron, New Mexico.

1939

Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp opens for advanced Scout camping.

1940s

1941

With the declaration of war, the government requests Boy Scout service for the distribution of defense bonds and stamp posters; collection of aluminum and wastepaper; defense housing surveys; victory gardens; distribution of air-raid posters; cooperation with the American Red Cross; and, by joint agreement with the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, services in three capacities--messengers, assisting emergency medical units, and firewatchers.

Waite Phillips makes another large gift--land, residence and ranch buildings, livestock, operating ranch equipment--contiguous to Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp, bringing total acreage to more than 127,000 acres. The area is renamed Philmont Scout Ranch.

Scouts continue in war service. Twenty-eight projects are requested by the government, including the collection of 30 million pounds of rubber in a two-week drive; all-out salvage based on the government-issued pamphlet Scrap and How Scouts Collect It; distribution of pledge cards for war bonds and savings stamps; victory gardens; work on farms and in harvest camps; and government dispatch bearers.

1943

The first Silver Antelope awards are presented for distinguished service to youth within a region.

The BSA conducts a nationwide Donor Awareness Good Turn to inform American families of the urgent need for donated human organs and tissue. An estimated 600,000 youth members distribute 14 million brochures to families, informing them of the need for donated human organs and tissue and urging them to make a commitment to donate.

Webelos program expands to two years to include fourth-grade and fifth-grade boys.

1987

The Boy Scouts of America begins to address five "unacceptables" in American society: drug abuse, hunger, child abuse, illiteracy, and unemployment.

The nation's largest anti-drug abuse education campaign is launched with the release of a booklet titled Drugs: A Deadly Game.

1988

The first annual Scouting for Food drive collects more than 65 million containers of food.

Venturing introduces the Quest Award for participants to learn about good nutrition, fitness, and sportsmanship.

2004

The BSA launches Good Turn for America, a national initiative to address the problems of hunger, homelessness/inadequate housing, and poor health. The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity join as national partners.

Some 200 Scouts come to the aid victims in the wake of Hurricane Charley.

The Boy Scouts of America helps kick off September as National Preparedness Month. Eagle Scout Tucker Barbour of Troop 500, chartered to the Capitol Hill Scouts in Washington, D.C., introduces Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at the kickoff event on the grounds of the United States Capitol.

2005

Eagle Scout Steve Fossett made the first solo nonstop fixed-wing aircraft flight around the world.